A drop-off is expected for the men’s a program due to attrition. But for the women, a surprise improvement is expected despite attrition there as well combined with the change of a head coach. Such is the case for Tennessee basketball programs with SEC Media Days underway.
Rick Barnes’s team, after losing four starters, its three leading scorers and rebounders along with its two leading assists men, is picked to finish fifth in the SEC this year, according to SECSports.com. That comes after finishing tied for No. 2 last year with the Kentucky Wildcats, behind the LSU Tigers, in a season in which they went 31-6 and made the Sweet Sixteen.